Worldwide Sports News

March 5, 2026

Official: Los Angeles Kings Trade Warren Foegele To Ottawa Senators For Picks

The Los Angeles Kings have traded left winger Warren Foegele to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

NHL insider Frank Seravalli further confirmed the reports, adding that the Kings are receiving a draft pick, and the two teams are also swapping picks.

The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta revealed the details of the draft picks, with the Kings receiving a 2026 second-round pick, which belongs to the Buffalo Sabres. The Sens and Kings swap conditional third-round picks.

In the Senators' press release of the trade, the conditions of the swapped third-round picks are explained.

"Ottawa will get the worse of the Kings’ own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Dallas’ third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade). Los Angeles will get the better of Ottawa’s own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Washington’s third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade). However, if both Ottawa and Washington do not qualify for the 2026 NHL playoffs, then Ottawa will instead transfer to Los Angeles the worse of Ottawa’s own third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft or Washington’s third round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft (acquired in a previous trade)."

Foegele has been in and out of the lineup for the Kings at times this season, and that was not lost on Kings GM Ken Holland. Holland openly hinted at trading away Foegele shortly after acquiring superstar left winger Artemi Panarin from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4.

Warren Foegele (Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images)

Los Angeles' GM admitted that he had a surplus of forwards and that a player like Foegele shouldn't be a healthy scratch. Evidently, Holland has found Foegele a home where he'll be hoping to get more playing time.

He's featured in 47 games and has scored seven goals and nine points this season for the Kings. With that, he's averaged 14:45 of ice time in what is his second season with Los Angeles.

However, in his first season with the team, he was far more productive. In fact, he went on to have the best campaign of his career, scoring 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points. Not to mention, he put up a plus-36 plus-minus rating and averaged 16:10 of ice time per game, all of which are personal bests.

Los Angeles Kings' List Of Rumored Trade Targets Ahead Of NHL Trade DeadlineWith the NHL trade deadline just days away, it's unknown how aggressive Los Angeles Kings GM Ken Holland will be on the trade front. Nonetheless, here is a list of players that have been linked to the Kings in trade rumors this season.

The Kings signed Foegele in the free agency window in the off-season of 2024. The Markham, Ont., native carries a $3.5-million salary cap hit for one more season after this campaign, and has a five-team no-trade list, according to puckpedia.com.

Before his time with the Kings, Foegele spent three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, growing into a middle-six forward as time went on. In his last season with Edmonton, which was 2023-24, the 29-year-old scored 20 goals and 41 points.

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March 5, 2026

Penguins Linked To Potential Reunion With Canucks Forward

The Pittsburgh Penguins should be looking to add to their forward depth ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. One of their biggest needs is another center, and they are now being linked to one of their former players.

According to The Athletic's Josh Yohe, the Penguins are contemplating the possibility of reuniting with Vancouver Canucks forward Teddy Blueger.

"League sources have told The Athletic that Pittsburgh is considering a deal that would bring former Penguins center Teddy Blueger back to the team," Yohe wrote.

If the Penguins brought back Blueger, he could be a nice addition to their and penalty kill due to his solid two-way play. However, he could also move up the Penguins' lineup at times due to his versatility if ever needed.

With Blueger being one of the top third-line centers available on the trade market, it is likely that the Penguins will have competition for his services. He is exactly the kind of solid two-way forward that playoff teams love to add, and it also does not hurt that he has a good amount of playoff experience on his resume as well.

In 14 games this season with the Canucks, Blueger has recorded five goals, three assists, eight points, and 33 hits.

March 5, 2026

Edwin’s Journal: Calm before the storm

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 3: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 3, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

With 21 games left, there is still much to be decided for the Lakers.

On the long road that is the NBA season, LA can see the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings is just a game-and-a-half away. However, the objects in their rearview are closer than they appear as they are also just two games ahead of the seventh-seed Suns, who are currently play-in-bound.

That means there’s little to no room for error. They will either arrive at their desired destination come mid-April or it’s going to be a bumpy ride with an ugly ending.

Buckle up, Lakers fans.

5 things I liked and didn’t like

1. A nice little streak

With the Lakers playing games against the Warriors, Pelicans and Kings, this week, they had an opportunity to stack wins. They accomplished that feat and played well.

But, forgive me if I’m not going to stand up and clap about the greatness of the 2025-26 Lakers.

After all, they played a Steph Curry-less Warriors, a Kings team with the worst record in the NBA, and a Pelicans side yet to win 20 games.

Still, sometimes, the most important thing to do is what’s expected of you. They didn’t disappoint this week, and now they are in a position to impress and prove they are a higher-level team than their record indicates.

2. Ignoring the drama

It’s not always fun in Lakerland, but it’s never boring.

Even in victory, there are enough miserable, negative people to find darkness in the light. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that when Luka Dončić and head coach JJ Redick had an argument during the team’s win against the Warriors, it went viral.

Still, I was taken aback by how many people were obsessed with it. It was a topic on every show and podcast, big and small and before the Lakers played the Pelicans, Redick was asked about it multiple times.

His response was what I expected: to dismiss it as nothing out of the ordinary.

“I don’t know why it went viral, it felt very normal to me” – JJ Redick on his interaction with Luka Doncic on the bench during the Warriors game that got a little heated pic.twitter.com/jNPF2KFBUO
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 4, 2026

If this shocks people or is considered a problem, then every team in the NBA has massive issues. If the average fan heard how players talk when mics aren’t around or when they are comfortable, their jaws would drop to the floor.

Even from publicly available things, this is rather tame. It’s not Kobe Bryant yelling during practice, berating the general manager and insulting his teammates. And it certainly isn’t Draymond Green knocking out Jordan Poole.

This was just a heat-of-the-moment argument that was likely forgotten between the two of them in a matter of minutes.

3. What’s up with Reaves?

LA’s big three is fully healthy, but is it working? Last week, one of the topics in my journal was the offense’s struggles.

LeBron and Luka have had some good games this week, but Austin Reaves did not. He has struggled to score against any opponent. Over the past five games, he’s been held under 20 points in every contest, well below his average of 23.8 per game.

Austin Reaves shooting percentages over the past five games.
40% vs. Celtics
37% vs. Magic
41% vs. Suns
63% vs. Warriors
33% vs. Kings.

At the half, he is 0-6 from the field against the Pelicans.
— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 4, 2026

So what’s the problem?

Is it just a poor shooting slump? Is it having trouble getting integrated with LeBron being back on the floor? Or is there a bigger issue?

Are teams getting more physical with him and is Reaves’ inability to get to the paint and finish through contact becoming an issue again? During the playoffs last year, we saw Reaves get bullied by the Wolves, which led to a poor series.

A rough week won’t erase a career that’s had a positive trajectory, nor will it eradicate what’s so far been a great year for Reaves. But I’m perked up a bit, especially since this is a contract season and we’re about to enter the most important part of the year.

4. Take a bow, Jaxson Hayes!

From the outside looking in, it’s easy to say a player should accept whatever role they are given. But how would you react at your workplace if you were asked to minimize yourself for the betterment of others?

That’s what Hayes did in LA by returning on a one-year deal and getting demoted from starter to backup.

Not only did he take this in stride, but he’s responded by having a great season. His performance against the Pelicans was a prime example.

Hayes started on the bench but, after outplaying Deandre Ayton, Redick decided to stick with him down the stretch of the close game. That confidence in Hayes was rewarded as he stymied Zion Williamson, getting multiple stops on him down the stretch.

The Lakers won and Hayes was a big reason why. This isn’t the first time Hayes has stepped up and helped LA win a game, and it certainly won’t be his last.

The Hayes redemption arc was not something I thought we’d see, but I’m glad the basketball gods added it to the script.

5. Plus, plus-minus

While most of the year has seen Lakers lineups in the negative, this week has been positive.

The seven most used fine-man lineups all won their shifts, led by the starting lineup at +14, the second-highest plus-minus. The best lineup featured Reaves, Hayes, Dončić, Jake LaRavia and Luke Kennard, which played for 13 minutes and was a +20.

It’s great to see the starters winning their minutes as well as this new lineup with Hayes and Kennard working so well.

Hopefully, that continues as LA begins facing some tougher opponents.

Stat of the Week

If I were to call Luka one thing, it’d be consistent. No matter what, he is going to produce.

In Sunday’s home win against the Kings, Luka had 28 points, five rebounds and nine assists in 29 minutes. It marked his 35th game this season, recording 25+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists, most in the NBA.

There is plenty left to figure out regarding how to make the Lakers one of the best teams in the league, but what’s clear is that Luka is a great No. 1 option to start that with.

Play of the Week

Basketball is fun. The Play of the Week is a reminder of this as Dončić adds another ridiculous make to his ever-expanding highlight reel.

Luka begins by quickly driving hard towards the rim. He tries to come to a hard stop, but begins to slip while also handling the ball behind his back.

This slip could’ve led to a turnover. But somehow, Luka quickly got back up and recovered. The play looked like something you’d see on the playground or in an AND1 mixtape.

Once Luka was back on his feet, he quickly got a shot up and drilled it. On the Spectrum broadcast, Billy Mac had the perfect call for this play.

“If this goes in…It goes in! That’s some magic from Luka!”

View Link

Player of the Week

Luka can always be Player of the Week, but he gets it this time since he was the most consistent Laker and a big reason why they have won three straight games.

He averaged 30.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists, leading the Lakers in all three categories.

Yeah, that’ll get it done.

Stories of the Week

Lakers’ big 3 of LeBron, Luka and Austin Reaves have been too small this season- The Athletic

While this week was better for LA’s big three, overall, there is work left to do. Law Murray broke down the stats for the trio in his latest piece for The Athletic.

In 297 minutes, the Lakers have outscored opponents by only three points with Dončić, James, and Reaves together. There have been eight games in which L.A. has outscored opponents during the trio’s shared minutes, eight in which the Lakers have been outscored and one in which they played to a draw.
One of the more disappointing aspects of the Dončić-James-Reaves combo has been the offense. The Lakers have scored only 109.2 points per 100 possessions this season with their three best players on the floor, a figure that would rank below every NBA team except the gap-year Indiana Pacers.

The Lakers schedule is about to test how good they are – Silver Screen and Roll

Alex Regla always provides thoughtful critiques of the Lakers for the site, and he laid out why this upcoming stretch will decide who the Lakers truly are.

The Lakers will go head-to-head with the clubs they’re currently sandwiched between in Minnesota and Phoenix. Additionally, they also have two pivotal matchups remaining against Houston, Denver and Oklahoma City each.
Given how bunched up everyone still is, tiebreakers will likely play a big role in determining the final playoff bracket.
For example, despite still having one game remaining against Phoenix, the Lakers have already lost the season series to the Suns, a result of the two sides playing an extra time this season during the NBA Cup knockout rounds. Conversely, thanks to their two early-season wins against Minnesota, the Lakers have notched the season series over the Timberwolves. Tiebreakers against Houston and Denver are still up for grabs.
It may sound like hyperbole, but this is why the Lakers’ entire season could come down to how they fare in these eight games.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

March 5, 2026

Full Braves 40-Man Spring Breakout roster and predictions for final 27-man roster

Jul 2, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Didier Fuentes (75) throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Today, the Atlanta Braves have released their full 40-man Spring Breakout roster. It’s filled with their top prospects who will compete against the Yankees on March 21. This is just a preliminary roster pool, as only 27 of those 40 players will actually make the final roster.

Below you will find a list of the 40 players to make the roster, as well as a guess at the 27 players who will actually participate in the game – assuming they stay healthy. The number next to them is their ranking on the Battery Power Top 30 list that was updated this winter.

40-man Player Pool

PITCHERS (21)
Blane Abeyta, RHP, NR
Ethan Bagwell, RHP, No. 25
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Honorable Mention
Lucas Braun, RHP, No. 19
Garrett Baumann, RHP, No. 12
Blake Burkhalter, RHP, No. 18
Cam Caminiti, LHP, No. 1
Didier Fuentes, RHP, No. 3
Isaac Gallegos, RHP, NR
Drue Hackenberg, RHP, No. 30
Hayden Harris, LHP, No. 28
Herick Hernandez, LHP, No. 20
Jhancarlos Lara, RHP, No. 11
Briggs McKenzie, LHP, No. 7
Ian Mejia, RHP, NR
Rolddy Munoz, RHP, NR
Owen Murphy, RHP, No. 4
Raudy Reyes, RHP, No. 23
JR Ritchie, RHP, No. 2
Luke Sinnard, RHP, No. 8
Luis Vargas, RHP, NR

CATCHERS (3)
Archer Brookman, C, NR
Colin Burgess, C, NR
Manuel Dos Passos, C, NR

INFIELDERS (9)
Lizandro Espinoza, UTIL, NR
John Gil, SS, No. 9
Jim Jarvis, SS, NR
Alex Lodise, SS, No. 10
David McCabe, 1B/3B, Honorable Mention
Cody Miller, SS, No. 16
Jose Perdomo, SS, No. 21
Tate Southisene, SS/OF, No. 6
Dixon Williams, 2B, No. 26

OUTFIELDERS (7)
Owen Carey, OF, No. 17
Patrick Clohisy, OF, NR
Isaiah Drake, OF, No. 15
Conor Essenburg, OF, No. 14
Luis Guanipa, OF, No. 13
Eric Hartman, OF, No. 24
Diego Tornes, OF, No. 5

Predictions

I predict the Braves will take 11 pitchers, 2 catchers, 7 infielders, and 6 outfielders to this game, with 1 wildcard spot open.

With the pitchers I think it can be safely assumed that Cam Caminiti, Didier Fuentes, Owen Murphy, and Jhancarlos Lara will all be heading to the game. JR Ritchie is only outside that group as the Braves could decide to hold him back as they consider him for a big league spot after his strong start to the spring. I also believe that Luke Sinnard, Lucas Braun, and Hayden Harris are likely, with Herick Hernandez being close to that group as another lefty option to go with Caminiti and Harris. That is eight or nine guys out of the 11, and we haven’t even gotten into talented prospects like Briggs McKenzie, Raudy Reyes, Garrett Bauman, Landon Beidelschies, or Ethan Bagwell, or more experienced arms like Blake Burkhalter, Rolddy Munoz, Ian Mejia, or Drue Hackenberg

I will pick Caminiti, Fuentes, Murphy, Lara, Sinnard, Braun, Harris, and Hernandez for the first eight slots, leaving Ritchie off the team in favor of keeping him with the big league squad. Beidelschies is the next pick, giving the team a fourth lefty. Hackenberg gets a slot here as the Braves hope he can put a forgettable 2025 season behind him. With the final spot going to young fireballer Raudy Reyes, just to give him a chance to throw gas in this game.

Catcher is going to be the toughest spot to pick as none of the names in the pool are significant prospects. I am going to go with Archer Brookman for one of the spots, as the Braves just added him via the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft this winter, so they may want to give him a look. With the other spot, young Manuel Dos Passos is the pick over Colin Burgess, as Dos Passos is the most intriguing prospect in this pool.

With the infield I believe two things are fairly safe bets. Based on how he has been used this spring plus his late promotion to Double-A last year, John Gil will be a lock if healthy. I also think David McCabe is going to go because of the need for a first baseman. The three recently drafted shortstops in Tate Southisene, Cody Miller, and Alex Lodise will all be strongly considered, as will also recently drafted second baseman Dixon Williams. But you can make an argument for former top international signee Jose Perdomo, who is finally healthy and in camp in the best shape we have seen since signing. Though minor league veterans like Lizandro Espinoza and Jim Jarvis would add a little experience to the team.

Two of these guys will need to be left out, and unfortunately I believe one of the more intriguing prospects will be in that group, as I can’t picture the Braves leaving off both Jarvis and Espinoza for their experience, versatility, and being the most advanced. I will leave Jarvis off in favor of Espinoza, and also Perdomo due to his struggles to this point in his career. That makes the group of infielders Gil, McCabe, Southisene, Lodise, Miller, Williams, and Espinoza.

The outfield is most likely to bring top prospect Diego Tornes and the most advanced player of the bunch, Patrick Clohisy. That means one Top 30 prospect will need to be squeezed out here. Top prospect Conor Essenburg seems like the most likely to get the squeeze due to his not playing in a professional game that counts yet, and I chose him over Luis Guanipa as the player not to make the cut. That means the outfield would be Tornes, Clohisy, Isaiah Drake, Owen Carey, Eric Hartman, and Luis Guanipa for the six spots. That is going to be an impressive group of young players to watch.

With the wildcard spot it would be a tough decision. On the hitting side there are prospects Perdomo and Essenburg, versatile veteran Jarvis, and a third catcher in Burgess. If they decided to go with a 12th pitcher there are prospects like top draft pick McKenzie, young prospects like Baumann and Bagwell, more experienced options like Burkhalter, Mejia, and Munoz. I am going to take Baumann over Jarvis with this pick, as he is a highly regarded prospect getting ready for his first taste of the upper minors.

Predicted Roster

PITCHERS (12)
Landon Beidelschies, LHP, Honorable Mention
Lucas Braun, RHP, No. 19
Garrett Baumann, RHP, No. 12
Cam Caminiti, LHP, No. 1
Didier Fuentes, RHP, No. 3
Drue Hackenberg, RHP, No. 30
Hayden Harris, LHP, No. 28
Herick Hernandez, LHP, No. 20
Jhancarlos Lara, RHP, No. 11
Owen Murphy, RHP, No. 4
Raudy Reyes, RHP, No. 23
Luke Sinnard, RHP, No. 8

CATCHERS (2)
Archer Brookman, C, NR
Manuel Dos Passos, C, NR

INFIELDERS (7)
Lizandro Espinoza, UTIL, NR
John Gil, SS, No. 9
Alex Lodise, SS, No. 10
David McCabe, 1B/3B, Honorable Mention
Cody Miller, SS, No. 16
Tate Southisene, SS/OF, No. 6
Dixon Williams, 2B, No. 26

OUTFIELDERS (6)
Owen Carey, OF, No. 17
Patrick Clohisy, OF, NR
Isaiah Drake, OF, No. 15
Luis Guanipa, OF, No. 13
Eric Hartman, OF, No. 24
Diego Tornes, OF, No. 5

March 5, 2026

Public Skate: Bruins vs. Predators

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 22: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Nashville Predators during an NHL game at Bridgestone Arena on October 22, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

It’s the last game before the trade deadline!

Everyone remain calm, or freak out, if you’d rather do that. I’m not your boss.

The Bruins and Predators face off in a game with playoff implications for both teams (though you could say that about pretty much every game from here on out, I guess).

The B’s will be looking to keep pace in the competitive Eastern Conference wild card race, while Nashville is clinging to the fringes of the Western Conference wild card race after a slow start to the post-Olympic period.

Bruins! Predators! In Tennessee!

Discuss.

March 5, 2026

Yankees announce 2026 Spring Breakout roster

Feb 26, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (76) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Much of the baseball world is gearing up for the World Baseball Classic, but there’s another fun preseason date on coming up on the calendar: MLB’s Spring Breakout. Now in its third year, the Spring Breakout games feature rosters that consist only of each team’s prospects, who get a chance to showcase their abilities against some of the other top young talents in the sport.

The Yankees just announced their roster for this year’s iteration, which will take place against the Braves on March 21st at George M. Steinbrenner Field:

Yankees roster for the spring breakout game on March 21, obviously subject to change pic.twitter.com/ywGBknWSyZ
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) March 5, 2026

The roster sports just about every notable prospect in the Yankees’ system, as every player above rookie ball on their Top 30 list from MLB Pipeline (with the exception of Rule 5 draftee Cade Winquest) appears on the squad.

The biggest prospects to watch will be some of the players fans have already gotten to know over the past year, such as George Lombard Jr., Elmer Rodríguez, and Carlos Lagrange. It was Lagrange, in fact, who broke out at last season’s Spring Breakout, overcoming first-inning jitters to retire 11 in a row at one point while showing off his 100-mph heater. Lagrange entered the game ranked just 19th on the Yankees’ prospect list, but is now one of the club’s most exciting farmhands.

There are plenty of candidates on this roster who could do something similar to Lagrange last year, announcing their presence on a big stage before going on to have a huge year. Right-handers Ben Hess and Bryce Cunningham, the Yankees’ first two picks in the 2024 draft, should see the field, and could rise up prospects lists fast this year if they can refine their games. Henry Lalane is tantalizing as possibly the left-handed version of Lagrange, the 6-foot-7 lefty still able to touch the upper 90’s after dealing with shoulder issues. Then there’s Chase Hampton, once the Yankees’ top pitching prospect who’s just now getting a shot to re-establish himself after Tommy John surgery.

Elsewhere, it’ll just be cool to potentially see Lombard and Dax Kilby, a pair of top shortstop prospects, share an infield, and dream on the possibility of the two teaming up on the infield dirt in the Bronx someday. That’s the sort of daydreaming MLB was going for in putting together the Spring Breakout, and they’ve largely been successful in creating an event that lets fans get a good look at a number of players who will soon be heading to their minor-league homes for the duration of the season.

March 5, 2026

Gibb scores 19 points and BYU beats Utah for 3rd time season, 70-52, to advance to Big 12 quarters

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Delaney Gibb had 19 points, eight assists and four steals to lead BYU to a 70-52 win over rival Utah in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament on Thursday.

The ninth-seeded Cougars (22-10) won their fifth straight game and beat the eighth-seeded Utes (19-12) for the third time this season to advance to play top seed and No. 10-ranked TCU in a Friday quarterfinal.

Gibb made four 3-pointers as did Brinley Cannon, who scored 12 points. Lara Rohkohl scored all 12 of her points in the second half, including nine in a pivotal third quarter, and had eight rebounds.

Lani White scored 20 points, the only Ute in double figures.

Down 11 early in the third quarter, BYU shot 53% and outscored Utah 24-7 in the period to lead 51-43 after scoring the final 15 points.

Gibb's 3-pointer gave BYU a 12-point edge early in the fourth quarter while the Utes went scoreless for over five minutes. She heaved up another 3 to beat the shot clock for a 16-point edge with 1:18 remaining.

Cannon made three 3-pointers and BYU was 6 of 12 from the arc in the first quarter when it took a 22-17 lead. But the in the second quarter, the Cougars missed all six from the arc and were 2 of 12 overall. Utah took advantage, scoring 13 straight points and outscoring the Cougars 19-5 when White scored 11 of her 16 first-half points for a 36-27 lead.

Neither team reached 40% shooting but BYU made 11 of 30 from the arc and turned 19 turnovers into 18 points.

Up next

BYU lost at home to TCU 72-48 on Dec. 31.

Utah awaits its postseason fate.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

March 5, 2026

No. 11 Ohio State women ease by Indiana 83-59 to advance to the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jaloni Cambridge had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Chance Gray added 18 points, and No. 11 Ohio State eased past Indiana 83-59 on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Ohio State (25-6), a No. 5 seed, advances to play 19th-ranked Minnesota in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Buckeyes secured their fifth straight season with 25-plus wins.

Cambridge and Gray combined for 10 of Ohio State's points during a 12-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14. The Buckeyes' lead did not drop below eight points the rest of the half and Gray's 3-pointer with 20 seconds left made it 36-24 at the break.

Ohio State added a 10-0 run early in the third quarter for a 17-point advantage. The Buckeyes led by as many as 30 points, 81-51, with three minutes remaining in the game.

Kennedy Cambridge had 14 points and Elsa Lemmilä grabbed 13 rebounds to go with six points, five assists and three blocks for Ohio State. Gray made four of Ohio State’s 10 3-pointers — a game after the Buckeyes sank a program-record 18 3s in an 87-68 win against then-No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.

Maya Makalusky led Indiana (18-14) with 21 points and five 3-pointers. Shay Ciezki added 12 points and Nevaeh Caffey scored 10.

Up next

Ohio State: Looks to even the season series with Minnesota after a 74-61 loss on Feb. 18.

Indiana finished the regular season with a 6-12 record in Big Ten play.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

March 5, 2026

Texas Rangers lineup for March 5, 2026

SURPRISE, ARIZONA - MARCH 04: Aaron Zavala #79 of the Texas Rangers bats during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Brazil at Surprise Stadium on March 04, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Texas Rangers lineup for March 5, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals.

We have the Battle of Surprise today, with the Rangers and Royals facing off. MacKenzie Gore is pitching for the Rangers.

The lineup:

Haggerty — LF

Langford — CF

Seager — SS

Burger — 1B

Higashioka — C

Smith — 2B

Bride — 3B

Zavala — RF

Herrera — DH

March 5, 2026

Andrew McCutchen signs minor league deal with Rangers after Pirates drama

Baseball player Andrew McCutchen watches his RBI double. — FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen watches his RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies on Aug. 22, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt...

Andrew McCutchen’s second tour of duty with the Pirates is over.

The 2013 National League Most Valuable Player has agreed to a minor league deal with the Rangers, The Post’s Jon Heyman confirmed.

McCutchen’s deal, first reported by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, is worth $1.25 million if he makes the major league squad, and can max out at $2.5 million if he reaches all of his incentives.

Andrew McCutchen spent the past three seasons in Pittsburgh. AP

He wasted no time embracing his new team, donning a cowboy hat in a brief X video posted hours after news of the deal broke.

The 39-year-old returned to Pittsburgh ahead of the 2023 season for what appeared to be a fitting late-career swan song after spending his first nine seasons with the organization.

While his performance was a far cry from his MVP peak, McCutchen still offered pop as a veteran right-handed hitter, averaging 15 home runs and 50 RBIs the past three campaigns.

In 135 games last season, McCutchen slashed .239/.333/.367 with 13 homers and 57 RBIs (95 wRC+).

pic.twitter.com/Vfc46jUkLT
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) March 5, 2026

Primarily a designated hitter at this juncture, the former Yankee maintained he wanted to continue his career in 2026 — but the Pirates did not commit to a reunion.

The Pirates’ busy offseason, which included the acquisitions of veteran slugger Marcell Ozuna and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, complicated McCutchen’s potential fit on the roster.

Ozuna, O’Hearn and incumbent first baseman Spencer Horowitz are expected to assume a majority of DH duties — but general manager Ben Cherington said the team would “continue to communicate” with McCutchen about a possible reunion.

McCutchen voiced displeasure in not being invited to the Pirates’ annual offseason fan fest in January. AP

“Andrew has meant a ton to the team,” Cherington said in late January, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He’s had an incredible run at two different times. Certainly, his legacy as a Pirate is secure. Everybody with the Pirates, it’s our desire to maintain a really good relationship with Andrew well into the future. Then we come back to our team. What is the job? The job is to build a team that gives us the best chance to win games when you’re at the ballpark in June and July.

“Our approach this offseason has been laser-focused on what gives us the best chance to win more baseball games in Pittsburgh than we have in the past seasons. That’s gonna continue to guide our decisions.”

McCutchen — despite being unsigned — also voiced his displeasure at not being invited to the team’s annual preseason fan fest in late January.

Andrew McCutchen casually dropped one of the colder hype videos you may see in a while

(IG/cutchtwenty2) pic.twitter.com/c0IHCCm82Q
— Dan Bartels (@DanBartels2) February 18, 2026

“I wonder, did the Cards do this [to Adam] Wainwright/ [Albert] Pujols/Yadi [Yadier Molina]?” the five-time All-Star fumed in a since-deleted X post. “Dodgers to [Clayton] Kershaw? Tigers to Miggy [Miguel Cabrera]? The list goes on and on.

“If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player. Talk to them about my appreciation for them over the years. Shake that little kid’s hand or hug the fan that’s been a fan since [Roberto] Clemente. You see, this is bigger than baseball! Bigger than looking at a 40-man roster and cherry picking numbers that fit your agenda or prove why your opinion matters.

“The fans deserved at the very least to get that opportunity.”

He doubled down on his desire to play with a hype video posted to his Instagram story, which showed him taking practice swings with an overlay of negative social media comments about his ability.

“You can’t do it anymore Cutch,” a series of text in the video said. “You can’t get better at 39.”

For his career, he sports a .271/.365/.447 slash line with 332 homers, 1,152 RBIs and 2,266 hits with the Pirates, Giants, Yankees, Phillies and Brewers.

McCutchen will now fight for a spot on the Rangers’ bench as he seeks to play in an 18th major league campaign.

March 5, 2026

‘Scary’ kid to immortality: Healy bows out with a ‘fearless’ legacy Aussies will never forget

The whisper spreading around the ‘Gong about the blonde pocket rocket behind the stumps with reflexes like a cat had become a roar by the time it reached Ellyse Perry’s ears.

March 5, 2026

Who is Munetaka Murakami? Meet Team Japan star turned White Sox slugger

Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami has already made his mark at the World Baseball Classic, hitting a game-tying home run against Team USA in the WBC championship in 2023. He's returning to Team Japan in 2026, ahead of his MLB debut.

Murakami signed a two-year contract with the Chicago White Sox in the offseason after a record-breaking run in the Nippon Professional Baseball, the top league in Japan. He hit an NPB-record 56 home runs for a Japanese-born player in 2022 and hit 36 home runs as a 19-year-old in the league.

Murakami has been a hyped future MLB addition for years, with numerous teams awaiting him being posted by the NPB. His value has taken a hit recently, though, due to his swing-and-miss concerns.

Murakami's power is elite, but he struck out more than 28% of the time in each of his last three seasons. It'll be interesting to see how he transitions to the major leagues, as he has the potential to be among the best power hitters in the sport, especially if he can keep the strikeouts from ballooning out of control.

Here's everything to know of Murakami, one of Japan's top stars:

Munetaka Murakami contract

Murakami singed a two-year deal worth $34 million total with the White Sox during the offseason. Murakami, still 26 years old, opted for the short-term deal to prove himself before potentially testing free agency again after the 2027 season.

Signing Murakami cost the White Sox $40.575 million total, as they paid his former team, the Yakult Swallows, a $6.575 million transfer fee for his services.

He signed on Sunday, Dec. 21, a day before the deadline for him to sign with an MLB team. The market for his services was lower than what many projected a few years ago, due to his swing-and-miss tendencies and defensive concerns.

Still, hitting cures all wounds. And if Murakami can settle to MLB pitching, he'll be due a huge deal in 2027.

Munetaka Murakami stats

Here's a look at Murakami's year-by-year slash lines in NPB, where he played eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows:

2018: 18 home runs with 72 RBIs in 377 at-bats (.281 BA/.383 OBP/.485 SLG)
2019: 36 home runs with 95 RBIs in 511 at-bats (.231/.332/.481)
2020: 28 home runs with 86 RBIs in 424 at-bats (.307/.427/.585)
2021: 39 home runs with 112 RBIs in 500 at-bats (.278/.408/.566)
2022: 56 home runs with 134 RBIs in 487 at-bats (.318/.458/.710)
2023: 31 home runs with 84 RBIs in 496 at-bats (.256/.375/.500)
2024: 33 home runs with 86 RBIs in 500 at-bats (.244/.379/.472)
2025: 24 home runs with 52 RBIs in 220 at-bats (.286/.392/.659)

Munetaka Murakami age

Murakami is 26 years old, which is much younger than when most NPB players are available to MLB teams. Murakami was a year short of the required nine years of professional experience to gain international free agency, meaning he had to request to be posted by NPB.

He'll still be 27 years old when he becomes a free agent again in 2027.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meet Team Japan star Munetaka Murakami turned White Sox slugger

March 5, 2026

Game Preview: Suns looks to continue momentum against Bulls

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 22: Khaman Maluach #10 of the Phoenix Suns controls a rebound during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 22, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Blazers defeated the Suns 92-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Who: Phoenix Suns (35-26) vs. Chicago Bulls (25-37)

When: 7:00 pm Arizona Time

Where: Mortgage Matchup Center — Phoenix, Arizona

Watch: Arizona’s Family

Listen: KMVP 98.7

The Phoenix Suns return home tonight looking to keep the momentum rolling after their recent win over the Sacramento Kings.

The Bulls, meanwhile, are limping into the finish line this season. They just had an 11-game losing streak snapped recently, and have lost 12 of their last 13 games. Key injuries, along with shipping out several starters and overhauling the team’s outlook, have them looking towards the future. They did just play the Thunder competitively in their last game, only losing by eight points, but of course, SGA did not suit up in that one.

For the Suns, the story of the past few weeks has been resilience. Phoenix has managed to stay in the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture despite a wave of injuries that has forced head coach Jordan Ott to rely on depth, creativity, and a constantly shifting rotation.

Phoenix enters as 10.5-point favorites in this one as they aim for their third straight victory and 36th win of the season.

Probable Starters

Phoenix

Oso Ighodaro
Royce O’Neale
Devin Booker
Jalen Green
Collin Gillespie

Chicago

Guerschon Yabusele
Isaac Okoro
Matas Buzelis
Tre Jones
Josh Giddey

Injury Report

Mark Williams (foot) ruled out for Thursday.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) March 5, 2026

Suns

Mark Williams — OUT (Foot)
Dillon Brooks — OUT (Left Hand Fracture)
Jordan Goodwin — OUT (Left Calf Strain)

Bullls

Josh Giddey — QUESTIONABLE (Ankle)
Matas Buzelis — QUESTIONABLE (Ankle)
Patrick Williams — QUESTIONABLE (Quadriceps)
Jalen Smith — DOUBTFUL (Calf)
Jaden Ivey — OUT (Knee)
Anfernee Simons — OUT (Wrist)

What to Watch For

Live by the three, die by the three.

This Suns team will continue to let it fly from deep. Devin Booker’s return will help with spacing, so it’s no surprise to see that immediate benefit for Grayson Allen, Collin Gillespie, and even Jalen Green the other night in the win vs. Sacramento.

Khaman, Man!

It’s time to unleash Man Man. With Mark Williams out tonight, this will serve as a perfect opportunity for the Suns’ rookie big man to play in meaningful minutes. It’s fitting that it will come against his former teammate Nick Richards, who is now on the Bulls.

Oso Ighodaro on Suns rookie Khaman Maluach playing tonight vs. Bulls with Mark Williams (foot) being OUT: "He'll be ready. I told him when he got drafted, that somehow, someway, there's always an opportunity during the year. His came 60 games in, but he's been working every… https://t.co/CAqXdvSo64 pic.twitter.com/R9nm9TFmsX
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 5, 2026

Small ball will be the theme from the Chicago side, as the Bulls don’t have a traditional center playing heavy minutes outside of Nick Richards and a bit of Leonard Miller. This feels like the perfect Oso game.

The Suns will wait on the injury report, but if Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis are both available, that’s where most of Phoenix’s defense focus should be. Containing those two will be the key to avoiding an upset.

Key to a Suns Win

SHOW UP!

Do not take anything for granted. The NBA can humble you quickly. Despite being the heavy favorites and the Bulls limping into this one, Phoenix needs to take care of business and not take Chicago lightly. The Suns have done a great job of playing hard, no matter the opponent, so this shouldn’t be an issue.

Offensive Flow

The Suns need quality reps with Devin Booker and Jalen Green playing side-by-side. In the last contest vs. the Kings, they combined for 37 points on 35 shots. That has to improve. Efficiency and playing off one another come with reps and building chemistry, something they haven’t had a ton of time to do. I’d like to see 45+ points combined in a much more efficient manner while cutting the turnovers down.

Collin Gillespie and Grayson Allen looked sharp last game, scoring 35 points on 25 shots. When this entire group of guards can all click in the same game, it’s going to be a scary sight. Heck, even if three of them shoot well, it’s going to be difficult to beat this team.

Bench Production

For the Bulls, Collin Sexton and Nick Richards have become significant pieces for them of late, along with Rob Dillingham. We’ll see how the injury report potentially shuffles things, but the Suns have Grayson Allen leading the second unit. The question is, who else will step up? Being down Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks, and Jordan Goodwin tests the Suns’ depth. The rookies will look to put their stamp on this one, as we’re likely to see double-figure minutes from both Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Maluach in this one.

"I know how well I'm playing off how I'm playing defense."

Suns rookie Rasheer Fleming coming off matching career highs in points (8) and rebounds (6) in Tuesday's win at Sacramento.

On Devin Booker and Jalen Green praising him after the game: "They instill confidence in me… pic.twitter.com/HFXwLL7ukQ
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 5, 2026

BOOK:

Prediction

This feels like the game where the guards figure it out. I think Phoenix takes care of business and scores a lot of points in the process.

Suns 127, Bulls 111

March 5, 2026

Spencer Strider reaches high velocity in win against Blue Jays

What more can you ask for? A nice sunny day in CoolToday Park, a solid pitching performance from the Atlanta Braves’ two aces, and oh yeah…an appearance from Chipper Jones and Dale Murphy to speak with the team’s hitters before today’s game.

In an interview with Jones from MLB Braves insider Mark Bowman, he explained how he wanted to make the discussion more interactive for the players when discussing strategies and answering questions about the approaches they took during their playing days.

“It’s one thing for us to stand up and give our testimony, but we don’t actually talk about what the players want to hear,” Jones remarked in the interview.

Chipper Jones talks about joining Dale Murphy to talk to Braves hitters before today’s game pic.twitter.com/cX63U6yFMn
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 5, 2026

He also explained that the main idea was to adopt a universal approach when taking pitches and to always have a plan set up before they go up to bat.

A great way to start the day before taking on the Blue Jays.

Starting with pitching, Chris Sale went through three innings, giving up five hits and one earned run before retiring his outing with two strikeouts and tagging in Spencer Strider (2.1 IP/ 2 ER/ 2 H/ 1 BB/ 4 K) in the top of the fourth.

Making his presence known to start with a 1-2-3 inning once he entered, fans were impressed with Strider’s 95-96 mph ranged fastball and 41.7% whiff rated slider that appeared to reach its target consistently.

Though giving up a two-run double in the fifth from Blue Jays’ Addison Barger, the “stuff” was there and gained talk amongst Braves Country to encourage a height in their expectations on what’s to come from the ace.

Getting relieved and then returning shortly after in the sixth, he reached 48 pitches before getting relieved by Blyne Enlow.

Moving over to offense, a sac-fly from Austin Riley first put the Braves on the board to tie (1-1) with their opponent. Also noting the two-run homer (his first of the spring) from Dominic Smith to bring Eli White in and take the lead (3-1) early in the game.

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It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth that the team would see the lead again after an RBI double from
Mauricio Andre Dubón and, soon after, a two-run single from Drake Baldwin (6-3).

Minor league outfielder Tristin English would later go on to extend their lead with a three-run double to secure the win (9-5).

Tomorrow, we’ll be seeing Reynaldo López return as he takes on the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers.

March 5, 2026